There are many concerns about mosquito control strategies to reduce the risk of infection and protect public health, but in weighing environmental and public health concerns against public health benefits, some form of targeted mosquito control activity may be appropriate. Mosquito control activities range from reducing or eliminating mosquito breeding habitat (which starts with eliminating still and stagnant water on your property), through selective use of bacterial and chemical agents to control mosquito larvae, to the application of pesticides to control adult mosquitoes. Decisions on appropriate measures involve an assessment of both risk and efficacy. It is possible that after an assessment of local risks this summer, some jurisdictions may decide to implement some form of mosquito control measures.

Fogging (wide-spread application) of Malathion, one of the courses of action that has been discussed to eradicate adult mosquitoes, exposes large segments of the population to a toxic pesticide. This is not an action that decision makers should take lightly. This approach is also a temporary measure, so repeated foggings are likely if this course is taken. One must look very carefully at local circumstances and assess the relative merit of that kind of repeated pesticide exposure against the risk presented by the West Nile Virus.